In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments

In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments Brian Shiro May 13, 2010 UND 997 Symposium

Outline
FMARS
Mission Overview
Seismic Project
Electromagnetic Project
MDRS
Mission Overview
Active Seismic + GPR Project
Lessons Learned

FMARS and MDRS
FMARS = Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station
MDRS = Mars Desert Research Station
Based on the Mars Direct architecture
The Mars Society

Getting There

FMARS
Devon Island
Founded 2000
Polar desert
Located on rim of 39Ma Haughton Crater
12th crew: 6 people
Crew Geophysicist
Jun 27 - Aug 1, 2009 (26 days on Devon Island)

Mars on Earth Haughton Crater Which one is Mars?

Seismic Station
Study interior structure, origin, & evolution of Mars
Questions: crustal thickness, mantle properties, core radius, seismicity

Earthquake!

FMARS Seismic EVAs Summary

Electromagnetic Survey
Time domain electromagnetic method (TDEM)
Purpose: look for groundwater, characterize subsurface resistivity

Survey Design

EVA Tracking

FMARS TDEM EVAs Summary

TDEM Results
Dolomite too resistive for our 40 m loop with 3.5 A power.
Can constrain subsurface resistivity to 1,000-10,000  -m.

Depth to Groundwater
Can consrain upper bound of depth to conductor.
Assuming a 100  -m body, it would be at least 300 m deep.

MDRS
Hanksville, Utah
Founded 2002
Desert with Jurassic/Craceous sedimentary features
89th crew, 6 people
Crew Commander
Jan 23 - Feb 6, 2010

NDX-1 Kneepads

Ground Penetrating Radar
CRUX instrument = miniaturized GPR developed by NASA
Data collected by Stoker et al. on Crew 85 in Nov 2009.
Found a strong reflector, a possible buried paleochannel

Study Area

Miyamoto Crater, Mars
Similar to the feature at MDRS
Inverted river channel intersects with crate rim
Former MSL landing site candidate

Active Seismic Survey
Seismic refraction, reflection, surface wave methods
Purpose: Determine shallow subsurface structure, Look for water
Land streamer with 12 geophones

MDRS Seismic EVAs Summary

Survey the Profile

Collect Data Hammer strike as source Cover to see computer screen

Fix Broken Geophone

Seismic Data

Seismic Results

GPR Redux
GPR data collected again using CRUX by Crew 92 in March 2010.
Same profile as seismic experiment.
General agreement with seismic results.

GPR - Seismic Comparison
GPR data collected again using CRUX by Crew 92 in March 2010.
Same profile as seismic experiment.

Lessons Learned
Simplify User interfaces : large buttons, easy-to-read screens, configurable prior to EVA, automation
Passive Seismic : Installation of Trillium Compact system (including burial) is feasible in spacesuits.
Electromagnetic : Laying loop manually, operating the PROTEM are not very practical in spacesuits.
Active Seismic : Land streamers are good for seismic profiling, but they are heavy. For long surveys, the source needs to be mobile on a rover, and data collection/processing should be automated.

Related Presentations
Shiro, B. and C. Stoker (2010), “Iterative Science Strategy on Analog Geophysical EVAs,” NASA Lunar Science Forum 2010 .
Ferrone, K., S. Cusack, C. Garvin, V.W. Kramer, J. Palaia, and B. Shiro (2010), “Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station 2009 Crew Perspectives,” AIAA SpaceOps 2010 Conf., 65-ME-18.
Shiro, B. and K. Ferrone (2010), “In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments,” Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 2052.
Shiro, B. , J. Palaia, and K. Ferrone (2009), “Use of Web 2.0 Technologies for Public Outreach on a Simulated Mars Mission,” Eos Trans. AGU , 90(52) , Fall Meet. Suppl., ED11A-0565.
Banerdt, B. and B. Shiro (2007), “The Seismic Exploration of Mars: History, Prospects and Barriers,” Seismological Research Letters , 78(2) , 276.
AGU 2009 LPSC 2010

Acknowledgements
FMARS-12 and MDRS-89 crews
Robert Zubrin, Artemis Westenberg, Chris Carberry, Aziz Kheraj, Mission Support Team
Pascal Lee, Stephen Braham, Brian Glass
Gene Traverse, Rob Harris, Dennis Mills, Paul Bedrosian, Carol Stoker, David Stillman, Bob Grimm, Rob Stewart, Jim Hasbrouck, Deborah Underwood, Chris Gifford, Andrew Feustel
Mike Gaffey, Santhosh Seelan, Pablo DeLeon, and entire UND SpSt Dept.

Any Questions?

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In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments

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